Chapter 44

s.p.a.ce itself was distorted.

It was like a landscape painting by a child, twisted beyond its original shape. Such a surreal landscape would not be real.

An illusion. This was the illusory perceptions of Sei and the others, caused by fear and the enormous presences of Ruphas and the Demon King. s.p.a.ce was not actually distorted. However, even if everyone present recognized this, it was no different from reality itself as the Black-Winged Overlord and the Demon King faced each other in this distorted world.

The hero was not even acknowledged in their eyes. They merely confirmed each other’s ident.i.ties, completing a world that consisted only of themselves. The unfortunate hero who was sandwiched between them was an existence no different from a rock. As such, both sides ignored Sei and his companions, staring intently at each other.

“…I have waited a long time for this.”

Very soon, the man’s voice broke the silence. It was a deep and calm voice. Unbelievably, there was no sense of sharpness. Instead, it was like a young man who met his unrequited love.

“Unbelievably, this is the first time we met. Even so, we are familiar with each other. Therefore, this does not feel like our first meeting.”

The man spoke with the hero in between them. The Demon King was the archenemy of all humanoids, the pinnacle of demonkind, and the threat to the world. He was the manifestation of death and horror. The king of demons, who overwhelmed the Seven Heroes, continued speaking without reservation before the Black-Winged Overlord.

“Well, this may seem unnecessary now…Greetings, . I am …Your people know me as the Demon King.”

“Alcor?”

“This is the name we have for you. It is certain death for us to encounter you. Out of fear, we call you Alcor, the star that brings death.”

His eyes narrowed in vertical slits like a snake as he gazed affectionately at his rival whom he did not battle in the past two hundred years. Before such a gaze, Ruphas remained unmoved and returned a fearless smile.

If the Demon King was a monster, she would be one as well. They could stand before each other as equals precisely because they were on the same level as each other. Thus, there was no reason to fear. Her face had the expression of someone in a position of strength. That was why she was not afraid. Or so others would think, but in truth, she was thinking: “What’s with this pressure? I should just smile through this.”

“It may seem unnecessary, but it’s good manners to return a self-introduction. I am Ruphas Mafahl, the being your kind calls the star that brings death.”

Although they knew each other, this was still the first time they met. It was weird, even funny, to call oneself by this. .h.i.therto unknown nickname. They were talking calmly on the surface, but the fight had already begun.

The Demon King, Orm, was using mental skills, which were negated by Ruphas’ equipment that granted immunity to abnormal statuses. On the other hand, Orm resisted her Coercion skill by virtue of his level. Both sides were using powerful skills. If it were not Ruphas and Orm, the fight would have already ended. However, this was just child’s play to both of them. Both sides understood that it would not be effective, treating it only as a simple greeting.

However, the hero and his companions, who were sandwiched between the two, were in a pathetic state. They were afflicted by Fear (attack power reduced) and forced to the ground by Coercion (movement disabled).

“Honestly, I didn’t expect you to take action personally. Are you really that afraid of the hero?”

“Don’t be a fool. There are only two people that I fear. One is the omniscient and omnipotent G.o.ddess. The other is the one before me, the star that brings death. Everyone else is merely dust.”

“So is this current situation beyond your expectation?”

“No. I expected this. I came here to meet you.”

What a contradictory statement. He said he wanted to meet despite being afraid. Ruphas prompted him with her silence. Orm continued:

“Ah, let’s be honest here. I was afraid of you. I wanted to avoid having a direct confrontation with you. I was frightened of fighting the star that brings death and the twelve stars that follow you as well as the heroes who gathered under your leadership. I feared, I was frightened. I thought of you day and night. I will not deny my cowardly nature. This is an undeniable truth after all.”

“Yet you show up so easily this time.”

“After you were gone, I finally noticed that you were the only being that existed outside the G.o.ddess’ scenario. I realized you are an existence that the world could not afford to lose.”

Ruphas narrowed her eyes at Orm’s mysterious explanations. Her expression suggested that she did not know what he was trying to say. No, not just her. Sei and the rest also could not understand what the Demon King was saying.

“…What do you mean?”

“Do you want to know? Then, use your full power and find out. Use simple violence, like you used to do two hundred years ago. Well, even if you refuse, I will still attack.”

Crack. Orm cracked his finger joints. In response, Ruphas slowly clenched her fists.

—And it began.

Sei and his companions felt it in their bodies, predicting the fight that was about to start.

Here and now, it was starting. The fight between the Overlord and the Demon King did not happen two hundred years ago. This would be a top-notched duel that n.o.body had ever seen.

“—How fearless! Then, let me grant your wish!”

“—Let me witness if the power of the star that brings death had dulled over the past two hundred years.”

A WILD LAST BOSS APPEARED!